. >> reporter: now later today top officials from the obama administration will be fanning out across the impacted areas in new jersey and also in new york visiting hospitals, visiting with utilities. the idea here, according to the obama administration, is for these officials to see the progress firsthand and also come back with potential solutions, help the need -- help, rather, the things that they need get to the location in a timely manner. >> dan, the president has incredible schedule over the next few days, campaigning in ohio, wisconsin, iowa, and virginia, just to name a few. why does he and his camp feel it's so important to spend as much time as they can in so many places in such a small amount of time? >> reporte >> reporter: because these are the states where the race will be decided. you listed all the important states, florida, colorado, nevada. but here in ohio, this is the biggest, the most important of the battleground states. the president was here yesterday, made three stops making two stops here. we'll return here again. and the message that the president keeps ha